Confessions of a New Stepmom

by Nancy Sage

172 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Danielle Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection doesn’t try to smooth over the complicated feelings that come with stepping into a child’s life sideways instead of from the beginning and that’s exactly what makes it so good. The poems move through the whole emotional spectrum.

The language is spare but never cold; there’s a real emotional intelligence at work, the kind that only comes from having actually lived this. By the end, the collection doesn’t offer easy resolution. It offers permission. Permission to feel messy, to grieve what you expected and love what you got instead, to be imperfect and still be enough.

[Jet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved this book, as a new stepmum myself I felt connected to the words and felt so seen☺️

[Mae Setrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

i hope and pray my daughter's future stepmom never feels this way. i want her to be my friend, to love my daughter like she's hers, and to belong right in the center of it all, with equal respect, say, and love.

the author did a beautiful job putting me in the shoes of a stepmom as someone who has never been one, or even in a position to be. my heart goes out to her, and i hope my daughter's someday stepmom loves her as much as this woman so clearly loves her little boy.

[William Diefenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an easy, eye-opening perspective from a genuine stepmom who shares her emotions through whimsical, descriptive, and humorous poetry. This book is a gift for anyone who has a stepmom in their life or who knows a stepmom, because it does for us what so many of us wish we were able to do for ourselves - connect with someone on a deep level. Reading this book reminded me of the importance of human connection, as Nancy’s pure humanity shines through. She is a vivid storyteller through her poems and this book deserves a place somewhere on your shelf where you can turn to it either whole cloth or piecemeal, absorbing the scenes and emotions she depicts. I imagine stepmoms will be so thankful for this chance to be heard and understood.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, emotional, and heart wrenching at times. Stepmotherhood is hard and Nancy does a brilliant job explaining all the factors that affect stepmoms day in and day out but in an easy format (poetry) to digest. I feel so seen as a stepmom.

[Georgina Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and insight found within these new poems about life as a stepmother. The stepmother's voice has always been largely underrepresented in the world of poetry, and this collection beautifully rectifies that issue. These verses capture the uncertainty, frustration and complexity of blended family life, but also the joy of new beginnings.

Containing reflections from the author's life, readers can relate to the tiny pleasures and challenges of parenting when seeking balance between the husband, ex-wife, children and finding inner peace and fulfillment. Stepmom readers, your time has come! May this book inspire you to share your own poetic voices. In the world of motherhood, stepmother voices deserve to be heard and understood.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, raw, emotional look at what it is to be a stepmom, parent, and family. Would highly recommend whether a stepmom or not!